Pure Michigan Travel - Fairs & Festivals Highlights

Holland Tulip Time

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 10:47:20 GMT

My husband and I made a quick weekend trip to Holland Michigan during 2008 Tulip Time just to view the beautiful farms and fields of tulips. The weather was beautiful on Saturday, and we got lots of great photos at the Veldheer Farm. We also ate at the Queen's Inn Buffet where there was both old style and modern Dutch food. The food was great and a great value too. On rainy Sunday we ate another great lunch at the Wild Hog Barbeque before heading for home. We had bought a few bulbs to plant and definitely loved our trip. Holland Tulip Time is a wonderful Michigan destination!

My Favorites

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 10:40:47 GMT

As a devoted Michigan traveler, here are My Favorites:

- Vacation location in Michigan: Grand Haven, Michigan, an idyllic fishing and recreational and camping town on the shores of Lake Michigan--the stroll along the boardwalk to the historic lighthouse is breathtaking. The evening sunset is spectacular! And there's nothing better than the soft, soothing sands along the beach!

- Appetizer: the barbeque meatballs at Win Schulers in Marshall, Michigan--melt in your mouth. Four generations of family members have been operating this historic restaurant since 1909. First class service and exceptional food are just some of the reasons this epicurean delight has withstood the strains of a changing economy.

- Hotel: The Ritz-Carlton (Dearborn) ambience and personal attention are the hallmarks. The Ladies and Gentlemen of the hotel as they are called provide some of the best guest service on the planet! And having won the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award twice separates this prestigious hotel from the other wanna-bes.

- White bean chili soup: Kirby Grill in Grand Haven--soup so good your knees will buckle when you taste it.

- Summer vacation: Mackinac Island with lunch at The Grand Hotel. The Hotel boasts the world's longest porch. No cars allowed on the Island just horse drawn carriages. The aroma of fudge and equine droppings fill the air but travel there in June for the lilac festival for a nostril treat!

- Pizza: Buddy's in Detroit

- Amusement Park: the Michigan Adventure Park in Muskegon takes high honors and a ride on the roller coaster Shivering Timbers is spectacular. Over 60 rides and attractions and a spectacular water park with 20 wild water rides.

- Michigan restaurant: The 1913 Room at the Amway Grand Plaza in Grand Rapids. This is the only AAA Five Diamond restaurant in our state and the service and the menu selections are first class. In 2008 it won that distinction for the seventh time.

- Canoe trip: the White River in Montague, Michigan. The site of blue heron taking flight, ducks swimming frantically away and startled deer racing through the grass and the occasional muskrat swimming in the river provide memories that will last a lifetime.

- Golf course: Crystal Mountain in Thompsonville, Michigan. Panoramic views of northern Michigan foliage and firs and well manicured fairways.

- Romantic getaway: the Betsie Bay Inn in Frankfort, Michigan. Rooms are outfitted with hot tubs, saunas, canopy beds, and wood burning stoves. Perfect getaway for married couples and if you weren't married when you arrived, you will be when you leave!

- Snack: the Pronto Pup Stand in Grand Haven has been delighting hot dog aficionados for over 60 years. Grab a couple of doggies and then stroll along the boardwalk. And then settle in for the Musical Fountain at dusk along the Grand River.

July 4th,2008 Battle Creek Air Show

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 16:00:55 GMT

FANTASTIC! We found out about the activities online. Then we called and talked to someone that told us that we could bring Kellogg's box tops (12 oz. and larger) for $1.00 each off our tickets. We were not sure whether they would only accept ONE box top per person or if we could take multiples...so we planned for the latter and we arrived with 30 boxtops in hand and we were so blessed to have two very friendly ladies working together with smiles on their faces at the gate as they counted and accepted each of the boxtops that we brought! We were totally impressed with the entire day! What a blessing the wonderful weather was! (Thank YOU, LORD!!!) The Air Show was GREAT. It was nice to have constant activities going on! The Hot Air Balloon launch was SO IMPRESSIVE. The food we purchased on the grounds for our lunch was really GOOD! "Fair food" as we call it! We were so impressed with the "TOTALLY FAMILY FRIENDLY" atmosphere that was present through out the whole day! We appreciate that you did not have alcoholic beverages there! We did not even hear anyone get into verbal disagreements at all. We left our folding chairs to go to the food trailers and when we returned they were exactly where we had left them...totally untouched and unharmed! Even the parking lot had "street names" to help us remember how to return to where we had parked! Our only negative was...we forgot our camera!!! Congratulations on a very well planned event! We would definitely consider returning again! Thank you very much for such a wonderful experience in Battle Creek, Michigan! Your event started our long weekend visit with our Michigan friends...and what a totally positive experience we had! We will definitely encourage others to come to future celebrations and we will strongly consider making a return trip! Thank you for having so much helpful information online so we could check it out and make 2 phone calls before we drove in from out of state! Thank you very much for a spectacular event!

Summer in Grand Haven

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 03:55:30 GMT

I grew up in Grand Haven, Mi and didn't know what I was going to miss until I left it to go to school at U-M in Ann Arbor. Then I moved to Charleston, SC but discovered I love the charm of my hometown. I am the oldest of five in my family and we go back to GH every summer (and winter, if possible). The entire family comes back every year and that includes 15 grandchildren. We use to stay at the family farm but that has now gotten too difficult and we are lucky enough to "win" the lottery at the Christian Reform Campgrounds just 2 miles from my parents house. We didn't know the great campground existed until we left. You have to submit your application on Jan. 2 and hope for a spot during the lottery that occurs the second Saturday of Jan. The entire spring/summer is filled that day. You can enjoy yourself immensely without leaving the campground but you would be missing parts of GH that are very enjoyable. Some of our favorite eating places are Ray's, a take-out burger joint that has been locally owned since the 1950's (you will love the fries and their milkshakes), Dee-Lite, a wonderful breakfast place that has the "Farmer's Breakfast" and will certainly feed your appetite. But, if you come for Sunday brunch be prepared to wait at least an hour. We always go to GH the week of the Coast Guard Festival so there is a ton of activities for the kids and adults. Our children get to enjoy the 10 acres of farm that my parents originally owned. So, GH is a different experience for them then for your average tourist. They get farm life and beach life. They may spend the day on a hay ride or "shelling corn". Or go to the beach in the evening or have an ice cream cone at Temptations downtown. There is even places for adults, deep water fishing and art fairs for everyone. Every Friday night during the summer their is a great little rodeo north of Muskegon. The rodeo is very kid friendly and a great time during the winter where you can get a sleigh ride. GH is special in my heart because it brings back memories of growing up and I can watch my children and my nieces and nephews create some of their own memories while reminiscing with my family.

Wonderful Time in Traverse City Area

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 17:04:27 GMT

My husband and I just returned home from Michigan, we spent almost 2 weeks camping in the TC area at the KOA. Although the people working in the campground were not very friendly the rest of the people we met during our stay were great. Our first day was spent at the Cherry Fest and doing a little downtown shopping, or should I say a lot of shopping! We went into a little boutique because I liked a dress in the window and were met with the most wonderful sales lady ever, she was so helpful and my husband was very entertained by her antics. The downtown area is so clean and the people were all so friendly as we came into the stores. I must mention the Cherry Republic, we left a few times with large shopping bags of goodies as well as full bellies! The parade was a blast, we talked to the people on either side of us and when they found out we were Canadian they welcomed us even more. While in the area we celebrated our 28th wedding , we wanted to go downtown to eat but decided to eat at a chain restaraunt instead, it was not very good. A few days later we went to The Brewing Company downtown and had a really nice dinner, when I told the waitress, Andrea that it had been our she gave us a free piece of cake to share, now that is hospitality at it's best! We spent many days driving each of the different areas, we did love the drives and the little towns but some of the stores were just too expensive for us to buy much. The beaches however were fantastic even though it was not all that hot out we still relaxed and swam in the wonderful clean cool water. On our second last day we decided to drive up to Mackinaw to visit the Island. We took the ferry over and rode our bikes around the Island, that was so much fun. Then we looked around in all the little shops and took so many pictures of the great old buildings. When we arrived back on the mainland, a nice older gentleman who worked for the ferry company looked at me and said 'you look like you just had the time of your life", he sure was right! We can't wait to come again, this time stay a little longer in the state. Who knew so much beauty was so close to home! We have been all our lives and always enjoy shopping in the Oakland area but now we are hooked. Thank you for such a wonderful vacation!

The South Haven Experience

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 12:23:14 GMT

Every Father's Day Weekend, our family goes to South Haven, Michigan to celebrate family. In addition to the wonders this area naturally has, they have a festival with live bands and Dragon Boat Racing all day. We start out the day uniting with more family and enjoying a picnic lunch. Following lunch and laughter, it is time to go to the top of the South Haven Lighthouse for an overview of Lake Michigan followed by the beach for activities from sand castle building to rock skipping to wave jumping. After a day of exploring, we retire to a nearby campfire and let the night wind down.

Lighthouse Festival 2007 combined with Last 2007 Sailing of the Badger

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 17:55:35 GMT

I've been coming to Michigan since 1961 before I started school. My aunt migrated from Louisa, KY to Detroit in the 1940's, then went on to open Clegg's Fine Foods, a restaurant in Elk Rapids in the mid 1950's, and our first trip north was to visit them. From then on, I was hooked, and I've made 2 or more pilgrimages to all parts of Michigan every year since then. Of late, I've taken a liking to making the final crossing of the season on the SS.Badger. Its very nostalgic, and I've learned that a good deal of its passengers intentionally ride on that occasion every year. This past year I combined that trip with my first ever Lighthouse Festival visit. I've visited many of these same lighthouses before, but it was much more fun doing it in late fall, just before they closed for the season, when the weather was so crisp and beautiful, and the colors of the leaves and sky were in such bright contrast. I met the last keeper of Old Presque Isle, a lady whose husband is said to haunt it. We stood out on the pier about a mile away by a local marina and restaurant at 9:45 watching, and indeed there were eerie lights in the old lighthouse! Very strange! In addition, we met a wonderful lady at Tawas Pt. whose father had been one of the last keepers there, back in the late 1950's. Also, we toured around the Thumb, the last remaining portion of Michigan I had never previously visited. I plan to go back there and explore some more this summer! I enclose a picture of me standing with the last keeper of Old Presque Isle during the lighthouse festival. If you are able to combine a visit to the Lighthouse Festival with a last sailing of the year of the Badger, perhaps I'll see you there!

Relaxing Summer Experience in Northern Michigan

Wed, 21 May 2008 14:33:59 GMT

My wife, kids and I had a wonderful experience in Northern Michigan. We enjoyed the Traverse City Film Festival, the Dunes, Swimming in Lake Michigan and more. We stayed at Crystal Mountain Resort where the kids spent most of their time at the new Water Park. The food was great, the sites (especially around dusk) were fabulous and the atmosphere was so relaxing. We highly recommend the experience to anyone that wants to relax and unwind while spending quality time with the family.